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Gordon Brown - still numero uno, just
After his make-or-speech last week in which he claimed his experience as vital in being the best leader of Britain, Gordon Brown is seen as the best during crisis times, although only be a very narrow margin.
The ComRes survey indicated that the Tories' lead over their Labour opposition had been slashed by over a third in the last four weeks and that since the Labour conference last week that they are closing the popularity gap on the Tories.
41% (down three) put the Tories as their numero uno, with 29% (up four) putting Labour as theirs. The Lib Dems squeezed an inch, gaining one percent of the votes to see them reach the dizzying heights of 18%.
The survey also revealed that Gordon' personal ratings were higher than Cameron' and that "43% see Mr Brown as "best in a crisis" compared with 33% for the Tory leader. The Premier is also more trusted on the economy by 43% to 33%." After his make-or-speech last week in which he claimed his experience as vital in being the best leader of Britain, Gordon Brown is se... more -
Design for new UK ID cards to be unveiled
The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, is set to announce the design for the controversial new identity cards set to be introduced in the coming months.
Containing a picture and a data-chip which holds name, DOB, fingerprints and other biometric data, the cards will be given to foreign nationals from this November, followed by airport staff and other high security jobs early next year.
There's been a lot of controversy over the cards with minister claiming they will improve national security, tackle identity fraud, prevent illegal working and improve border controls.
Whereas those in opposition have branded the cards are unnecessary, costly and a breach of personal liberty.
I'm hoping for a nice light blue colour so it brings out my eyes in the picture... The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, is set to announce the design for the controversial new identity cards set to be introduced in the c... more -
Top 10 Words in Obama's Berlin Speech
Senator Barack Obama addressed 200,000 people on Thursday July 24th in Berlin, near the site where the Berlin Wall once stood. This graph shows the top 10 most often used words in Obama's speech. The Democratic presidential hopeful's speech metaphorically used the Berlin Wall, a Cold War icon, to reassure cross-Atlantic alliance. (The word "Berlin" appeared 21 times in his speech, and the word "wall" appeared 16 times.)
"The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand."
Since last January Germany has swiftly developed "Obama-mania". Sen. Obama's speech, as a proud citizen of the US and a fellow citizen of the world, acknowledges this popularity.
"People of Berlin - people of the world - this is our moment. This is our time."
During the Bush administration, relations between Europe and the United States were often strained. Obama's Berlin speech underscores new hope and optimism between Europe and America.
Read the analysis of the Obama's speech here :
http://www.swivel.com/graphs/show/28946212
Tell us what you feel? Senator Barack Obama addressed 200,000 people on Thursday July 24th in Berlin, near the site where the Berlin Wall once stood. This gr... more -
As Gordon Brown skulks in the shadows, Barack Obama offers a little sympathy
As Gordon Brown skulks in the shadows, Barack Obama offers a little sympathy as he visits Downing street.
Despite attempts by both politicians to focus on foreign policy, the United States presidential candidate was forced to answer questions about Labour's worsening fortunes as he stood outside No 10 after two hours of discussions.
(Vid and more in the link)
does anyone else find the what Obama said a little funny? You like Gordon until he gets power? =D As Gordon Brown skulks in the shadows, Barack Obama offers a little sympathy as he visits Downing street. ... more -
"I'm not going anywhere."
He's NOT? Oh no! Gordon Brown has vowed to do "whatever is necessary" to help people struggling with rising food and fuel prices in the wake of Labour's catastrophic defeat in the Glasgow East by-election.
The Prime Minister, who earlier brushed off a call by Tory leader David Cameron for a General Election, insisted that he understood popular concerns at a time of global economic problems.
Addressing Labour's National Policy Forum at the Warwick University campus in Coventry, he promised new measures in the coming weeks to help people cope with the pressures of energy costs.
"We understand and we hear people's concerns," he said.
"We will do whatever is necessary over the next few months to help hard-working families through these difficult times."
Mr Brown praised Margaret Curran, the defeated Labour candidate in Glasgow East, saying that she had fought an "excellent" campaign.
He stressed that with oil prices having trebled over the last two years and food shortages pushing up prices, he said that every country in the world was affected by the current economic difficulties.
"Coming from ordinary families as we do and have done, we know what it is like when people go to the supermarket and find that the price of milk, and the price of bread, and the price of eggs have gone up dramatically in recent months," he said.
"We know that our role when facing global economic challenges is to be on the side of hard-working families, on the side of the people of Britain." He's NOT? Oh no! Gordon Brown has vowed to do "whatever is necessary" to help people struggling with rising food and fu... more -
Thatcher to receive state funeral, first since Churchill
Margaret Thatcher is to be given the ultimate accolade of a State funeral when she reaches the end of her days – the first British Prime Minister since Winston Churchill to be afforded such an honour.
But the possibility of a formal procession could be jeopardised by fears that there are insufficient troops available to line the route because the Armed Forces are so overstretched in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Although Lady Thatcher is currently in good health – she was with the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday – The Mail on Sunday has learned that plans
are under way for her funeral, when the time eventually comes, to take place at
St Paul’s Cathedral. Margaret Thatcher is to be given the ultimate accolade of a State funeral when she reaches the end of her days – the first British Pri... more -
London deputy mayor resigns over "lies and financial misconduct"
In the latest instalment of a series of blunders by the new Tory London mayoral team, Boris Johnson's deputy mayor, Ray Lewis has resigned following accusations of financial misconduct and inappropriate behaviour. The alleged revelations were uncovered by a Guardian investigation
Johnson's predecessor, Ken Livingstone, commented yesterday, "In my entire eight years in office I suffered only one enforced resignation of any of my most senior officials, Lee Jasper - and that only after seven years - and this extreme contrast shows vividly the incompetence of Boris Johnson and his administration."
Allegations against Lewis centre around claims that he borrowed around £45,000 from parishioners including an elderly woman and a man with learning difficulties during his time as a priest in the mid-1990s.
The crisis for the team worsened after a press conference on Thursday when Lewis, dismissing the accusations, pointed out that he was a magistrate (justice of the peace). Yesterday, however, the Ministry of Justice said he never been appointed as a magistrate. In the latest instalment of a series of blunders by the new Tory London mayoral team, Boris Johnson's deputy mayor, Ray Lewis has... more -
Above the Law: UK accused of 'lacking political will' to punish bribery ...
The UK was also accused of being among 24 countries in which there was a lack of access to information about investigations.
In 2004 the Serious Fraud Office launched an investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption against BAE in relation to the £43bn al-Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
The SFO abandoned the investigation in December 2006 after the government said it could threaten national security. BAE has always denied any wrongdoing.
TI described the termination of the investigation as "a damaging setback for the convention" and said the decision "created a dangerous precedent that other governments could readily follow".
So now, anyone can make a deal, sell weapons to...who ever and get away with it. If this weren't politicians and big name people, the parties would be enemy combatants at this point and be locked away with no light at the end of the tunnel. The UK was also accused of being among 24 countries in which there was a lack of access to information about investigations. ... more -
Iran is safe for 'discreet' gays, says Jacqui Smith
Human rights activists are outraged by the comments made by Jacqui Smith about Iranian asylum seekers who are under threat of execution if they return home because of their sexuality. She claims if they act on their sexuality 'discreetly', they are under no risk. She argues that they should not be given special treatment due to their sexuality. This relates to the story of gay Iranian student Mehdi Kazemi who gained asylum in the UK due to his own impending execution in Iran. Human rights activists are outraged by the comments made by Jacqui Smith about Iranian asylum seekers who are under threat of executio... more
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Second batch of secret documents found on UK train
No coincidence here. Sounds like a shy whistle-blower.
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Round 2, Bush and Brown at Downing Street
George W Bush is concluding his two-day visit to the UK today with a meeting with Gordon Brown for formal talks at Downing Street.
it is expected the leaders will focus on the Middle East, fuel and food prices following Bush's lunch at Buckingham Palace with the Queen yesterday.
A trip to the UK wouldn't be complete for Mr. Bush without a fly-by visit to old friend, Tony Blair, who he will meet to discuss his role as Middle East envoy. George W Bush is concluding his two-day visit to the UK today with a meeting with Gordon Brown for formal talks at Downing Street. ... more -
Shadow Home Secretary resigns over the 42-day detention issue
Shadow home secretary David Davis has resigned as an MP to highlight his opposition to the detention of terror suspects for 42 days without charge.
His resignation will trigger a by-election which he will fight on the grounds that he is against government's increasing intrusion into the public's lives.
In a statement, Mr Davis said the creation of a "database state" could not continue.
"It must be stopped," he said, "and for that reason it is incumbent on me to take a stand.
"I will be resigning my membership of this house and force a by-election.
"I will fight this by-election on the issue of relentless erosion of fundamental British freedoms." Shadow home secretary David Davis has resigned as an MP to highlight his opposition to the detention of terror suspects for 42 days wi... more -
Brown wins terrorism 42-day detention plan
The controversial plans to allow terrorism suspects to be held for 42 days instead of 28 days were narrowly approved yesterday evening.
The government won by nine votes, with 315 MPs backing its position and 306 MPs voting against it.
Much has been said about the controversial plans, with human rights claiming it is unreasonable and some MPs claiming it's necessary.
Sky News sums up why Gordon is so keen to rock the vote:
"Although Mr Brown has insisted the clash with rebels is not a vote of confidence in his leadership, defeat on 42 days would be a devastating blow to his authority."
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1318664,00... The controversial plans to allow terrorism suspects to be held for 42 days instead of 28 days were narrowly approved yesterday evening... more -
Bush Is a Lame Duck. Bush-Bashing in Europe Is, Too
The primaries -- especially the historic, extended Democratic contest, which British news outlets covered exhaustively -- are not the sole reason the fire has gone out of European Bush-hatred. One of the main sparks fueling it was a deep frustration that Americans couldn't see what many Europeans considered obvious: that Bush is a moron.
This is an excellent entertaining article about the realities of how Europeans look at America and how they will respond and see Americans after a new, intelligent president is voted in.
Dig in and have a great Sunday read.... The primaries -- especially the historic, extended Democratic contest, which British news outlets covered exhaustively -- are not the ... more -
Tories' Brussels enforcer quits over £½m expenses
The Conservative Party's leader in the European Parliament has been forced to resign, after admitting to breaking the rules on expenses to the tune of around £500,000. Ironically, Giles Chichester's role was to ensure MEPs in his party were behaving scrupulously. But it has emerged that over the past 12 years he has been transferring funds from MEP allowances into a company of which he was a director.
The Tories have moved to head off damaging allegations of sleaze. David Cameron, Tory party leader, issued the following statement:
"Giles Chichester is right to stand down as leader of our MEPs to prepare a full explanation of how his office is funded. Just as I expect our MPs to adhere to the highest standards, so must our MEPs. The tax-paying public have a right to know how their money is being spent and politicians have a duty to ensure it is spent properly." The Conservative Party's leader in the European Parliament has been forced to resign, after admitting to breaking the rules on ex... more -
The most important Prime Minister's Questions in over 2 years
Yesterday's Prime Ministers Questions session was one of the most pivotal in 5 years.
You will see why in the first 2 minutes, followed by a 10 minute discussion about green taxes on new cars.
I urge everyone who wants to see what a real policy debate looks like to at least watch the first 15 minutes of this. Yesterday's Prime Ministers Questions session was one of the most pivotal in 5 years. ... more -
British PM phones voters at home
Gordon Brown routinely telephones voters at home to talk about Labour policy, Downing Street has confirmed.
Press reports said the prime minister asked the No 10 switchboard to put him through to people who had written or e-mailed with concerns. Gordon Brown routinely telephones voters at home to talk about Labour policy, Downing Street has confirmed. ... more -
Blair to unite Religions
He aims to increase dialogue and practical work between the world's religions. "This is how I want to spend the rest of my life," he said.
Messiah of all good.. or king of PR? He aims to increase dialogue and practical work between the world's religions. "This is how I want to spend the rest of my l... more -
Should the age laws be extended?
Extending the reach of the current age laws would protect people from age discrimination by providers of goods or services, including public sector services such as NHS provision. Extending the reach of the current age laws would protect people from age discrimination by providers of goods or services, including ... more
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UK Politics
